Ok. So we just got Heath signed. Most of the line got contracts, Ben got his contract what, last year, Harrison got a contract, etc. etc.

How backloaded are these? Are we headed for cap trouble in 3-5 years? Are we betting on 2 more SB's in the next 4-5 years and that is why we are keeping this core, with a willing trade off of 2-5 years to dig out of cap hell?

Or do we have some BIG contracts that are up in the next year or two and will lighten the load quite a bit?

I am no capologist, but I think we are fine.....especially since there will most likely be no cap in 2010 due to the labour situation.

Take that and the fact that contracts of guys like Parker, Keisel, Hampton, Smith, Townsend, Colon are coming due and there are some young guys getting ready to step up.........and I think things will be fine.

oh, and i forgot to add that the steelers historically dont back load deals.

if you look at the big money deals that marvel smith and casey hampton got after their 1st contracts were up, you will see that they didnt increase much (in hamptons case it actually decreases).

look at the steelers record setting extension [at the time] we gave aaron smith a year or 2 ago.

it looks like highway robbery today.

the steelers do NOT mortgage their future (which is probably why we are [or amongst] the most winningest franchise in the free agency era).

true, though the salary does increase every year, then with bonuses, that is my worry. We have Santo coming up pretty soon for a contract, and who else that is going to demand a nice chunk? Woodley? How many years do we have Timmons signed for?

Man, it sure will be great if we can keep this team together for a nice 4-7 year run.

Ok. So we just got Heath signed. Most of the line got contracts, Ben got his contract what, last year, Harrison got a contract, etc. etc.

How backloaded are these? Are we headed for cap trouble in 3-5 years? Are we betting on 2 more SB's in the next 4-5 years and that is why we are keeping this core, with a willing trade off of 2-5 years to dig out of cap hell?

Or do we have some BIG contracts that are up in the next year or two and will lighten the load quite a bit?

Capologists, what do you think... enlighten me please.

Maybe we have some FWP's or Nate Washington's or William Gay's out there on the scouting horizon? Those players sure make the team cap friendly for their first few NFL seasons.

I know they like to create incentive-laden contracts, which is smart. If you THINK you're all that, put your money where your mouth is and prove it...and get paid.

I know there was one example where they had to pay a TON of incentives, although I'm sure they were happy to do so. Ben hit all kinds of thresholds his first year (NLTBE's or "Not Likely To Be Earned" incentives) when he took the team to the AFCCG. Those counted against 2005's cap, incidentally. Also, when you sign a rook and he doesn't hit his EXPECTED to be earned incentives, you get a cap credit.

Anyway, I don't think we operate that way at all...we tend NOT to sign players to long-term deals towards the end of their careers because we know they'll never fulfill their obligations. We leave that to other teams (The Jets are still my favorite example with Kimo and Faneca)...

we are eating about 5-7 mil in "dead money" this season (i cant remember the exact math) which comes off the books next season. we dont have much dead money (if any) next year.

.

who's dead money are they eating ? other than foote, who have they cut that was under contract ?

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